Automatic configuration mechanism for universal remote

Abstract

A programmable remote controller is programmed by a PC that has an onboard data base for sets of codes used by a variety of commercially available remote controllers. The data base contains sets of compressed codes. In order to program the remote, the user lets the PC find a match between a single pulse-code transmitted by a specific known controller on the one hand and an item in the data base on the other hand. Upon finding the match, the set containing the matching item is stored in the programmable controller as corresponding to the particular apparatus that is controllable via the specific remote.

I claim: 
     
       1. An information processing system comprising: an apparatus with multiple user-controllable functionalities;   a programmable control device having a user-interface with multiple user-inputs for selective control of a particular one of the functionalities through sending a particular one of multiple control signals to the apparatus upon the device being programmed;   programming means for programming the control device and comprising: memory means for storing a data base with a plurality of respective sets of multiple control signals; and   an input for receiving a specific control signal from an external agent; wherein:       the programming means is operative to identify a specific one of the stored sets on the basis of the specific control signal and to program the programmable controller to associate the control signals of the identified set with the multiple user-inputs.   
     
     
       2. The system of claim 1, wherein: the control device comprises a display with a GUI; and   at least one of the sets comprises additional control data to control the display for providing a visual representation of the functionalities associated with the control signals of the identified set.   
     
     
       3. A programmable control device for supplying a particular one of multiple control signals upon user-activation of a particular one of multiple user-inputs, the device comprising: memory means for storing a data base with a plurality of respective sets of multiple control signals for user-control of a respective apparatus;   an input for receiving a specific control signal;   identifying means connected to the input and the memory means for identifying a specific one of the stored sets on the basis of the specific control signal; and   programmable means for programmably associating the control signals of the identified set with the multiple user-inputs.   
     
     
       4. The device of claim 3, further comprising: a display with a GUI coupled to the programmable means for providing a visual representation of control functionalities associated with the control signals of the identified set.